Apparatus and method for depositing textile fiber sliver

Abstract

The textile fiber sliver is deposited in cans in the form of cycloid-type loops. During deposition, the sliver is delivered via a rotating funnel gear wheel into a rotating can. In addition, the mutual distance between the axes of rotation of the gear wheel and can is varied by laterally displacing the can. Also, the rotational speed of the can is varied during operation so that when the distance between the axes of rotation of the wheel and can is at a minimum, the can rotates at a maximum speed. Likewise, when the distance between the axes of rotation is at a maximum, the can rotates at a minimum rotational speed.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An apparatus for depositing a textile fiber sliver in a can, said apparatus comprising a rotatable turntable for supporting a can thereon to rotate about a first longitudinal axis;   a funnel gear wheel rotatably mounted above said turntable on a second longitudinal axis spaced from and parallel to said first longitudinal axis, said gear wheel having a funnel for passage of a sliver therethrough, said funnel being radially offset from said second axis;   means for moving said turntable relative to said gear wheel to vary the lateral distance between said axes; and   means for varying the rotational speed of said turntable as a function of the lateral distance between said axes whereby said turntable is rotated at a maximum speed with said lateral distance being at a minimum and said turntable is rotated at a minimum speed with said lateral distance being at a maximum.   
     
     
       2. An apparatus as set forth in claim 1 which further comprises a drive means having a constant rotational speed connected to said turntable. 
     
     
       3. An apparatus as set forth in claim 1 which further comprises a drive shaft rotatable at a constant speed and connected with said means for varying the rotational speed of said turntable, and a rotation-imparting element connected to and between said latter means and said turntable. 
     
     
       4. An apparatus as set forth in claim 3 wherein said means for moving said turntable laterally includes a plate supporting said turntable thereon, a disc rotatably mounted on said plate and a crank rod fixedly mounted on one end and connected eccentrically to said disc at an opposite end. 
     
     
       5. An apparatus as set forth in claim 4 wherein said disc is coupled with said rotation-imparting element for rotation thereby. 
     
     
       6. An apparatus as set forth in claim 5 which further comprises rails for guiding said plate in a rectilinear path whereby upon rotation of said disc, said crankshaft causes said platform to reciprocate along said rails. 
     
     
       7. An apparatus as set forth in claim 4 wherein said rotation imparting element is a V-belt pulley mounted on said plate and said means for varying the rotational speed of said turntable includes a V-belt pulley coupled to said drive shaft and a V-belt connected between said pulley and said rotation-imparting element, and wherein one of said pulleys includes a pair of adjustably mounted pulley halves biased towards each other to maintain tension in said belt during movement of said plate while varying the speed of rotation of said turntable. 
     
     
       8. An apparatus as set forth in claim 7 wherein each of said pulley halves has a conical surface engaging said belt and facing the other pulley half. 
     
     
       9. An apparatus as set forth in claim 7 wherein each of said pulley halves has a curved surface engaging said belt and facing the other pulley half. 
     
     
       10. A method for depositing a textile fiber sliver in a can, in cycloid loops, said method comprising the steps of rotating a can about a first longitudinal axis;   rotating a funnel gear wheel above the can on a second longitudinal axis parallel to and spaced from the first longitudinal axis;   guiding a sliver through a funnel of the gear wheel radially offset from said second axis into the can;   moving the turntable relative to the gear wheel to vary the lateral distance between said axes; and   varying the rotational speed of the turntable as a function of the lateral distance between said axes whereby the turntable is rotated at a maximum speed with said lateral distance being at a minimum and the turntable is rotated at a minimum speed with said lateral distance being at a maximum.   
     
     
       11. A method as set forth in claim 10 wherein said maximum speed of the turntable is 50% above the average speed of the turntable and said minimum speed is 50% below said average speed. 
     
     
       12. A method as set forth in claim 10 which further comprises the step of moving the turntable more rapidly in the zone of minimum distance between said axes than in the zone of maximum distance between said axes when the sliver is deposited about the hole formed by the deposited sliver in the can. 
     
     
       13. A method as set forth in claim 10 wherein the turntable is moved over a distance equal to between 5% and 10% of the diameter of the can. 
     
     
       14. A method as set forth in claim 10 wherein the ratio of the average distance between said axes relative to the radius of the funnel gear wheel is approximately 0.2 to 0.4. 
     
     
       15. A method as set forth in claim 10 wherein the ratio of the average distancce between said axes relative to the radius or the funnel gear wheel is approximately 2 to 4.5.